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Just the Basics on the Rules of Soccer

Soccer is one of the most played sports in the world. Millions of children all over the world have fallen in love with this exciting and action packed game. Despite its immense popularity, many are oblivious to the rules of soccer. Watching a match is like watching a foreign film when the soccer lingo starts getting thrown around. A basic knowledge of rules can help greatly in this situation. It can also help someone enjoy the game even more.

First of all, a soccer game is divided into two halves. Playing times do vary depending on the league and the level of play. They can be as little as twenty and as long as forty-five minutes. There is a half time usually consisting of about 10 minutes.

The center kickoff starts the game off. Both sides gather around the center circle in the field. Who ever gains control of the ball then has possession and the game is on. A corner kick happens when a player takes the ball out of bounds and a goal kick happens when a player takes the ball out of bounds and over the line.

There are several other playing rules that if broken can result in penalties or other sanctions. Players are forbidden from touching the ball with their hands while it is in play. The only exception to this is the goalie. If a player touches the ball then the opposing team gets what is called a free kick.

There are strict rules in place regarding holding and tripping. If any player deliberately uses their body to trip or knock down another player then that player is awarded a kick. This can become controversial in that it is difficult to tell if some moves were deliberate.

For safety reasons high kicking is not allowed. This is when a player kicks over the waist of an opposing player. The penalty for this is usually a kick.

There are several sanctions placed for team members that violate the rules. An indirect kick can be awarded for a less serious offense. The opposing team player is given the ball. However, they cannot score a goal off of this kick unless is hits at least one other player.

Direct kicks are awarded for more serious matters. These involve a kick fired directly at the goal. These are usually the result of tripping or holding.

When there has been a serious foul then a penalty kick can be awarded. They player and the goalie are the only ones allowed in the penalty area. The kicks are made from the Penalty line and the goalie may not move until the player has made contact with the ball. These can be very tricky for the goalie to beat.

The yellow cards are given to the players who break serious rules or behave badly on the field. It acts as a warning that if the behavior continues they will be sent off. If the player commits another foul or is accused of committing a seriously "un-sportsmanlike" act, they can be given a red card. When this happens the player is ejected from the rest of the game. This player also cannot be replaced forcing the team to play a man down.

One of the more famous red card incidences came in the 2006 world cup final. French player, Zinedine Zidane head butted a member of the Italian team just minutes before the game was about to end. The Italian player had allegedly made an extremely rude comment towards Zidane's mother provoking him to behave in this way. Zidane, who was playing his last game before retiring, was sent off the field. This brought a rather sad ending to his long and colorful career.

Soccer is a great sport for all to enjoy. For those who participate, they benefit from increased fitness agility. For those that watch, they receive non-stop action and excitement. Understanding a few of the rules of the game is important. It will lead to a better knowledge of what is happening and a greater enjoyment level.

Seed Newsvine

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